THEATRE/ THR PANS "SPIDER-MAN": The 1st review of the revamped Broadway muscial "Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark" has been released this morning. And its less than enthusiastic. The show officially opens tonight, following the longest preview period in Broadway history since performances began November 28, 2010. On April 17 audiences had the final chance to see original director/co-bookwriter/co-creator Julie Taymor's vision for the musical, which at that time had yet to officially open, although numerous critics filed mostly negative reviews in February. The musical went on hiatus following that performance and a preview period that had included several cast injuries and numerous delays for the opening night. When performances resumed May 12, the production featured major changes to the book and new songs by Bono and The Edge as well as the return of injured actor Christopher Tierney.Newcomers were also added to the creative team, including playwright Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa (a Marvel comics writer and an acclaimed dramatist), director Philip Wm. McKinley and choreographer Chase Brock. The show was finally "frozen" last week and it officially opens tonight. But, the theatre reviewer for The Hollywood Reporter has seen the show since it was frozen and filed the review this morning. They said: "The Bottom Line: The costliest, most ambitious endeavor in Broadway history, “Spider-Man” finally gets off the ground but fails to soar". They went on to say: "When a show is as misconceived as Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark, it’s more realistic to expect cosmetic improvements than miracles. That’s exactly what the new creative team has accomplished in this significantly overhauled but still terminally clunky reworking of the troubled mega-musical, now officially open after a record 183 previews". And, "But while the emergency surgical team has injected fanboy humor and self-conscious acknowledgments of the production’s rocky gestation, they have not located a heart in this bloated monster". Opening night reviews will appear late tonight and early tomorrow morning. No one is predicting critical raves for "Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark," which is playing at the Foxwoods Theatre on Broadway.
The original cast recording of the new Broadway musical "Baby It's You!," recorded between April 17-25, is released in stores and digitally today by Universal Music Group's Verve label. The album is produced by legendary music producer Richard Perry (Diana Ross, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbra Streisand) and associate-produced by Rahn Coleman. "Baby It's You!," the story of Florence Greenberg, the record producer who discovered the '60s girl-group The Shirelles, began previews March 26 at the Broadhurst Theatre, and opened April 27. Beth Leavel was nominated for a 2011 Tony Award in the Leading Actress (Musical) category. Using a catalog of pop hits, "Baby It's You!" is conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony-nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's "Million Dollar Quartet". The score includes doo-wop, pop and rock 'n' roll classics including "Dedicated To The One I Love," "Soldier Boy," "Duke Of Earl," "He’s So Fine," "I Say A Little Prayer," "It's My Party," "Louie Louie," "Mama Said," "Shout," "Tonight's The Night," "I Met Him On A Sunday," "Rockin' Robin," "Twist and Shout" and many more.
Carl Gardner, original lead singer of the R&B group the Coasters, has died in Florida. He was 83. Gardner's wife said her husband died Sunday at a Port St. Lucie hospice following a long bout with congestive heart failure and vascular dementia. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, the Coasters had a string of hits in the late 1950s, including "Searchin'," ''Poison Ivy" and "Young Blood." Their single "Yakety Yak" reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 following its 1958 release. It also spent 7 weeks as the #1 rhythm and blues song. "He loved his singing," Veta Gardner said of her husband of 24 years. "That was his whole life". The Coasters have continued to perform over the decades, with multiple changes to the lineup. Gardner, pictured far left, has always held the rights to the group's name, and his son, Carl Gardner Jr., took over as lead singer when his father retired in 2005. According to the group's website, the elder Gardner was born in Tyler, Texas, and moved to Los Angeles in the early 1950s. He became a founding member of The Coasters in 1955. The Coasters had 14 songs on the R&B charts, and eight of them crossed over to the pop Top 40, according to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Their hits were written by the famed team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. "The Coasters' parlayed their R&B roots into rock 'n' roll hits by delivering Leiber and Stoller's serio-comic tunes in an uptempo doo-wop style. Beneath the humor the songs often made incisive points about American culture for those willing to dig a little deeper," the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame entry on the group says. In the 1960s, their hits were covered by The Beatles, the Rolling Stones and other British Invasion bands. Gardner had been a longtime advocate for legislation that would prevent bogus groups from using the names of famous acts like The Coasters, The Drifters, The Shirelles, The Platters and many others. Florida lawmakers passed such legislation in 2007.
Jeanne Bice, creator of the popular "Quacker Factory" show on the television shopping channel QVC, has died. Known for her trademark headband, colorful personality and even more colorful line of women's clothing, Bice died on Friday at age 71. The cause has not been released. Bice, who spent her final years in Boca Raton, Florida, launched her show in 1995 and peddled bright clothing bedazzled in an assortment of adornments. Her business evolved from a hobby to a necessary effort after the death of her husband, then grew into a $50 million enterprise, TV Guide reported. "Since first appearing on QVC in 1995, Jeanne has been one of our most beloved personalities," the QVC Executive VP wrote on the company website. "Her passion and spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her". Bice is survived by her children.
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